Right-wing French mayor fined for anti-Muslim tweet

A French far-right mayor has been fined 2,000 euros for "incitement to hatred and discrimination" for tweets and statements targeting Muslim schoolchildren.

A Paris court on Tuesday fined Béziers mayor Robert Ménard 2,000 euros and awarded damages with interest of between one and 1,000 euros to six anti-racist groups who had brought the case.

The fine was higher than the 1,800 euros called for by the public prosecutor, who said the controversial mayor had "pointed the finger at kids, whom he describes as a weight on the national community".

"He reduces them to their religion, regardless of whether they have French nationality or if they practice the religion," he argued.